Rarely does the weather and the music come together so nicely as last weekend at the Gorge.  To be perfectly honest, the Gorge and I don’t have the greatest of memories together.  Beautiful yes, but too much of a cattle drive for my taste….usually.  Dead/Allman/Doobies was the exception.  Traveling in the old ‘77 bus is a must to this show (and just about anywhere for me).  Found four other Westfalias and cuddled up for a retro camp in the way-back machine.  It had been more than 10 years since I strolled down Shakedown Street looking for trinkets and the scene was shockingly familiar.  Veggie kind burritos and a full band.  The only glaring difference was the number of concert goers who thought it a good idea to bring the dog(s).  What’s up with all the Pit Bulls?  Buzz kill!    The music didn’t disappoint though.  I mostly wanted to hear Derek Trucks this time around having seen the Dead several times when Jerry was still alive.  That kid can really play!  Best eyes-open nap I’ve had since college. 

Kris Allen?  Just what I expected.  What is it about Adam?  Clearly the best and he didn’t even seem too surprised.  Look what American Idol has become…..Huge. 

I saw many happy faces at the Knitting Factory over the weekend.  Thanks so much for supporting the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and the great musicians who participated.  I have to think there’s another Spring Thing in the hopper for next year.  What was your favorite show of the weekend?  Mark me down as a Paulo Nutini fan.  He’s got a Rod Stewart/smokey thing going on that’s hard to beat.  Had no clue his band was so good! 

What a barrage of great Studio Blue performances and concerts.  Plain White Ts did play in Spokane, but what a treat to see acts like The Script, Mat Kearney and Green River Ordinance without a scheduled show.  Check the website  spokanesriver.com) for video updates in our interact area from the latest artists to visit the River’s Studio Blue. 

On a personal musical note, I was blown away by how Robert Cray apparently hasn’t skipped a beat in over 20 years since I saw him live last.  Got turned on to Cray in college and would catch him periodically in Seattle or Vancouver BC.  At one point during his show at the Knitting Factory I closed my eyes and tried to hear any signs of diminishing returns.  Couldn’t.  Don’t know how he does it.  Every tenor note was spot on and his work on the Stratocaster as masterful as I remember.  Wish I could say the same for myself.

Rock on

Greg

Zag me!  Last second win for the men was a barn burner.  The first day of the NCAA tourney definitely in my top 5 favs for the year as days go.  I really thought the women were moving on too, but coach Graves deserves credit for turning that program into another Gonzaga winner.  Congrats on a great year!  We’ll see what Friday brings for the men.  Maybe a trip to the Elite 8?  I don’t know if I can take it.

 Brett Dennen:  Nice show.  Cool to hear the songs come alive with the full band after a stellar Studio Blue performance.  Loved the tie-dyed crowd.  My kinda group. 

 Check out local blues legend Too Slim and the Taildraggers this Friday night on the River Local.  We’ll see how Slim’s bracket is holding up.

I knew I’d like what Donovan Frankenreiter was selling last Thursday at the Knitting Factory for the simple fact that I like his recordings.  But wow!  I have a giant soft spot for Hammond B3 organs, vintage guitar gear and bands who are genuinely having a good time together.  All were present Thursday night.  Those cats rocked a hair harder than I expected, but flowed between acoustic and electric seamlessly.  The strength of the songwriting and the band’s A+ playing made me wish it wasn’t over.  Trying to imagine how great it would be to see him in like……Hawaii.

 Pretty cool what U2 was up to this and last week.  Three nights live on Spokane’s River Monday through Wednesday and all week on Letterman the week before.  Stay tuned, we’ll have more artist inside looks coming up on the River. 

Keep the River Local music coming and check out Danny Songhurst this Friday night…..He makes his own guitars and he’ll tell you which stars play his custom made axes. 

Should be a great show Thursday night at the Knitting Factory.  Donovan Frankenreiter is not only an accomplished writer, singer and player;  He’s a good friend of Jack Johnson!  If you don’t have your tickets yet, get ‘em from Tickets West or you can listen to That Guy Steve and Marie McCallister for a chance to win them on Spokane’s River 99 dot 9. 

 We have a boat-load of great shows lined up in the coming weeks and some unique River Roadtrips planned.  Stay tuned!

Hey,  it’s looking like the maiden voyage for “the bus” this season will be The Dead/Allman Bros/Doobie Bros concert at the Gorge.  Feel free to stop by the Westy and join in May 16. 

 The River Local this week is Paper Astronomer from Spokane.  Tune in 8:20 Friday night to hear more from guitar player Neil Lambert.  Want your music on the River Local?  Submit music directly to riverlocal@spokanesriver.com. 

I’m trying.  I definitely signed up for life in the Inland Northwest….Love the climate, the seasons and the great outdoors.  But mid January through March can be a test of one’s sanity some years.  Last year, as I grumped about snow in May and the month that became known as Juneuary, I deemed it necessary to “escape to the sun” for a few days to re-energize during the gray, cold days of the Winter doldrums.  Not so easy to accomplish in the current economy.  So, only one year following my bold proclamation of escapism I must learn to find joy in the months between the holidays and the arrival of Spring tulips.   I think I’ll start by inviting more friends over….Perhaps the kitchen will hold the key. 

 What do you do for fun during the Winter? 

I realized while listening to one of my children the other day……That the tone and language we use to talk to our animals can be interesting if not insane.  We have two dogs named Clem and Annie and a cat named Lucy.  Within days of their arrivals, they quickly became Noony, Nanners and B.  Who is who you say?  Lucy the cat’s name morphed into Noony early in the game and is usually spoken in the highest note you can muster.  Annie=Nanners or Anner bananers and Clem is simply “B”….He is a “B”oy after all. 

Now, I know our family isn’t alone in all this crazy talk to our animals.  The whole episode made me look more closely at my childhood and the names our pets had to put up with.  Licorice and Peanut, the poor saps, became licki and Pean and were only spoken to in nearly unintelligible, high pitched sounds.  We must have thought cats could only hear high notes.  There was Yawthy Kitty (no one knows why) and Barney the dog.  Barney had such a dull wit, we left his name alone. 

 What strange creations have you made of your pet’s names? 

Been a while, I know.  Much like the Alaskan Brown Bear, the weather pushed me into a deep hibernation that could only be interrupted by a 95 degree weekend in Moses Lake……Done! 

 Got yer concert tickets yet?  I’m personally signed up for Tom Petty/Steve Winwood at the Gorge and Steely Dan at the St. Michelle Winery so far.  Anyone laying down the big cash to see the Police?  I wanted to take the kids to see Jack Johnson, but I’ll be at the Oregon coast.

Got the Volkswagen Bus out for the first camp of the season.  All systems go! 

Rock on,

 Greg